Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist

This job is now closed

Job summary

To be part of a team of therapists providing a specialist Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment, treatment and advice service to children, 0-19 years and their parents/carers referred to the Children's Therapy Service
To provide advice to, and liaise with, other professionals and teams. To participate in continued professional development in order to support the operational management and development of the Children's Occupational Therapy service.
To supervise and teach therapy assistants and therapy students.
To provide the occupational therapy advice to children and young people, their parents/carers, and to the multidisciplinary team within health, social care and health, education and the voluntary agencies in the patch.
To work closely with other services and agencies to ensure that occupational therapy is fully integrated into the child/young person's care programmes

Main duties of the job

Band 6 (or Band 5 accelerated to Band 6)

This is an exciting opportunity for an Occupational Therapist that is looking to develop their career in a team that provides a wide range of experience within a highly skilled and supportive team of professionals, that offers various CPD opportunities.

The post is also open to Band 6 applicants or Band 5 applicants interested in acceleration to Band 6 practitioner

The post involves working with school aged and pre-school children in a variety of settings (including outpatient clinics, child's home, special and mainstream schools) with a range of needs from mild to complex. Knowledge of the assessment and treatment of children with DCD, ASD and physical difficulties is essential. You will be working alongside an experienced team of Paediatric Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists.

About us

The Children's Therapy Team is an integrated occupational therapy and physiotherapy department who work closely with the multi-agency team, providing a service for children and young people from 0 years to school leaving age in a range of settings including the Children's Centre, in-patients, schools, and community.

The Department offers excellent clinical and professional support with good opportunities for continuing professional development, a structured IST programme and regular supervision.

Dorset is a delightful place to live and work with the choice of coast or country for leisure activities. Dorset County Hospital is in the county town of Dorchester which has good rail links to Southampton, Bristol and London and highly rated schools.

Date posted

02 February 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£35,392 to £42,618 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

405-23-AH803OCC-A

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital

Dorchester

DT1 2LB

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

To provide a specialist occupational therapy service for children and young people, some with complex needs, using evidence based/client-centred principles to assess, plan, treat and evaluate interventions. In west Dorset both in the community and as inpatients (Dorset County Hospital)
To provide the occupational therapy advice to children and young people, their parents/carers, and to the multidisciplinary team within health, social care and health, education and the voluntary agencies in the patch.
To work closely with Wheelchair Services, Specialist Equipment Agencies, Voluntary Agencies etc to ensure that occupational therapy is fully integrated into the child/young persons care programmes
To supervise and teach therapy assistants and therapy students

DIMENSIONS

The post holder will carry his/her own caseload and will be expected to work independently in locations away from the base at times. Supervision and mentorship will be provided by more senior therapists.

There may be supervision of more junior staff, non-qualified staff, and therapy students. Participation is expected in the Departments, Trusts and outside agencies education programmes.

The therapist will maintain close working relationships with other members of the Multidisciplinary team, Childrens Therapy team and other agencies as appropriate.

The Childrens Therapy Department is an integrated department and provides a service in a range of settings including the Children's Centre, health clinics, special and mainstream schools, opportunity groups, play groups and in the child's own home. In-patients are also seen on Kingfisher ward.

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post involves working closely with colleagues in the department, in the child health section of the Family Services Directorate and liaising with colleagues from other agencies including education and social services, primary care and the voluntary sector. The post holder will be expected to communicate with staff at all levels throughout the organisation as well as patients, parents/carers/families, visitors and the general public.

To handle and exchange highly complex information with care and sensitivity with children, families and other professionals, around the childs diagnosis and management process, taking into account physical and psychological aspects of the condition. Confidentiality must be maintained at all times. Where English is not the first language of the family this will include working with interpreters.

To communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

To be able to work with children of all ages and abilities (including those with learning difficulties, sensory loss etc) so that they can be involved in assessment and treatment decisions as appropriate.

To have active listening skills and be able to motivate, persuade and negotiate with children, young people and their parents/carers.

To have good presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively with other professionals, agencies, and the voluntary sector.

The post holder may be required to make presentations at multi-disciplinary training sessions, training to outside agencies and conferences

KEY RESULT AREAS

Responsibility for Patients

To be responsible for own practice and accountable for all aspects of occupational therapy treatment and care delivered to the patient.
To carry a mixed caseload and manage the therapeutic intervention to children with a range of conditions, including severe physical and cognitive impairments or disability.
To undertake specialist occupational therapy assessment and treatment as an autonomous practitioner.
To assess and develop individual care/treatment plans for a range of paediatric conditions, some of which will be highly complex or will be for patients with complex clinical or social needs. To use clinical reasoning when deciding appropriate intervention.
To provide therapy programmes for parents, carers and other disciplines. This will involve goal setting with the child and those involved with the child, promoting understanding of therapy aims and teaching specialist techniques
To be responsible for reassessing patient care as treatment progresses and alter treatment programmes as appropriate.
To assess children for specialist equipment and order as appropriate following agreed policy.
To provide specialist advice on patient care to other health, social, educational and voluntary sector services. This may involve challenging or requesting changes to treatment/care plans set by other paediatric professionals.
To analyse and understand the impact on child and their occupational therapy treatment of diagnoses/treatment interventions from other disciplines. This includes interpreting medical, educational, and psychological assessments of the patient.

To be responsible for initiating multi-disciplinary case meetings/team meetings to discuss individual patients or groups of patients if required.

To apply the available evidence base to clinical practice and to monitor outcomes
To respect the dignity and rights of the children, young people and their families and offer family centred service.
To provide assessments and reviews in accordance with the 1994 Code of Practice on Identification and Assessment of Children with Special Educational Needs and contribute reports as required.
To undertake the role of keyworker where appropriate.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

To follow departmental, Trust, Social Care and Health policies and procedures and to be involved in their updating as required.
To contribute to the development of policy changes which will impact on the childrens therapy department, child health service and other agencies as appropriate.

Responsibility for Staff

To take line management responsibilities for designated staff
To supervise students when required

Responsibility for Information Resources

To record clinical observations and assessments in accordance with local standards
To word process reports and collate statistical data
To maintain an information system for departmental and Trust requirements
To provide caseload statistics in compliance with departmental standards

Responsibility for Research and Development

To take part in departmental, Trust and national surveys and audits as required
To take part in research as required
To keep abreast of current research and developments in childhood conditions and related areas

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

To provide a specialist occupational therapy service for children and young people, some with complex needs, using evidence based/client-centred principles to assess, plan, treat and evaluate interventions. In west Dorset both in the community and as inpatients (Dorset County Hospital)
To provide the occupational therapy advice to children and young people, their parents/carers, and to the multidisciplinary team within health, social care and health, education and the voluntary agencies in the patch.
To work closely with Wheelchair Services, Specialist Equipment Agencies, Voluntary Agencies etc to ensure that occupational therapy is fully integrated into the child/young persons care programmes
To supervise and teach therapy assistants and therapy students

DIMENSIONS

The post holder will carry his/her own caseload and will be expected to work independently in locations away from the base at times. Supervision and mentorship will be provided by more senior therapists.

There may be supervision of more junior staff, non-qualified staff, and therapy students. Participation is expected in the Departments, Trusts and outside agencies education programmes.

The therapist will maintain close working relationships with other members of the Multidisciplinary team, Childrens Therapy team and other agencies as appropriate.

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

To communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

To have active listening skills and be able to motivate, persuade and negotiate with children, young people and their parents/carers.

To have good presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively with other professionals, agencies, and the voluntary sector.

The post holder may be required to make presentations at multi-disciplinary training sessions, training to outside agencies and conferences

KEY RESULT AREAS

Responsibility for Patients

To be responsible for own practice and accountable for all aspects of occupational therapy treatment and care delivered to the patient.
To carry a mixed caseload and manage the therapeutic intervention to children with a range of conditions, including severe physical and cognitive impairments or disability.
To undertake specialist occupational therapy assessment and treatment as an autonomous practitioner.
To assess and develop individual care/treatment plans for a range of paediatric conditions, some of which will be highly complex or will be for patients with complex clinical or social needs. To use clinical reasoning when deciding appropriate intervention.
To provide therapy programmes for parents, carers and other disciplines. This will involve goal setting with the child and those involved with the child, promoting understanding of therapy aims and teaching specialist techniques
To be responsible for reassessing patient care as treatment progresses and alter treatment programmes as appropriate.
To assess children for specialist equipment and order as appropriate following agreed policy.
To provide specialist advice on patient care to other health, social, educational and voluntary sector services. This may involve challenging or requesting changes to treatment/care plans set by other paediatric professionals.
To analyse and understand the impact on child and their occupational therapy treatment of diagnoses/treatment interventions from other disciplines. This includes interpreting medical, educational, and psychological assessments of the patient.

To be responsible for initiating multi-disciplinary case meetings/team meetings to discuss individual patients or groups of patients if required.

To apply the available evidence base to clinical practice and to monitor outcomes
To respect the dignity and rights of the children, young people and their families and offer family centred service.
To provide assessments and reviews in accordance with the 1994 Code of Practice on Identification and Assessment of Children with Special Educational Needs and contribute reports as required.
To undertake the role of keyworker where appropriate.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

To follow departmental, Trust, Social Care and Health policies and procedures and to be involved in their updating as required.
To contribute to the development of policy changes which will impact on the childrens therapy department, child health service and other agencies as appropriate.

Responsibility for Staff

To take line management responsibilities for designated staff
To supervise students when required

Responsibility for Information Resources

To record clinical observations and assessments in accordance with local standards
To word process reports and collate statistical data
To maintain an information system for departmental and Trust requirements
To provide caseload statistics in compliance with departmental standards

Responsibility for Research and Development

To take part in departmental, Trust and national surveys and audits as required
To take part in research as required
To keep abreast of current research and developments in childhood conditions and related areas

Person Specification

Essential

Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
HCPC registered
Evidence of CPD
Post registration validated courses related to paediatrics
Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience in paediatrics or related specialty
To be a car driver with a current UK licence
Evidence of ability to use communication skills effectively both verbally and in writing formal reports for outside agencies

Desirable

Teaching junior and undergraduate therapists
Assessment and treatment of infants + children 0-19 years with range of childhood conditions
Service development

Person Specification

Essential

Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
HCPC registered
Evidence of CPD
Post registration validated courses related to paediatrics
Minimum of 2 years post graduate experience in paediatrics or related specialty
To be a car driver with a current UK licence
Evidence of ability to use communication skills effectively both verbally and in writing formal reports for outside agencies

Desirable

Teaching junior and undergraduate therapists
Assessment and treatment of infants + children 0-19 years with range of childhood conditions
Service development

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

Dorchester

DT1 2LB

Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

Dorchester

DT1 2LB

Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)